A bleeding Donald Trump has been rushed off stage by Secret Service officers after an apparent shooting at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Mr Trump appeared to flinch and then clutch his right ear after what sounded like gunshots rang out.
The shooter is dead and another rally attendee were killed during the incident a Butler County District attorney has told AP.
The former president’s protective detail covered Mr Trump as he dropped to the ground and loud bangs could still be heard. He eventually emerged bloodied and defiant to stand and raised his fist in the air.
Mr Trump reportedly said “let me get my shoes, let me get my shoes” as he was taken from the stage. Blood could be seen around around his ear.
The shooter is dead and another rally attendee were killed during the incident a Butler County District attorney has told AP.
One witness, Ron Moose, said he heard what sounded like four shots, describing the sound as “pop, pop, pop.”
Mr Trump’s campaign team has released a statement saying the former president is “fine” after the frightening incident.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
“He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
The Secret Service has also released a statement: “An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania,” it read.
“The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
The venue was abandoned with chairs knocked over and yellow police tape around the stage. A helicopter flew above and law enforcement officers walked through the area, the video feed showed. Armed law enforcement officers were also seen on a roof near the stage where Trump was standing.
US President Joe Biden had received and initial briefing on the incident, the White House said.
Mr Trump had been in the middle of giving a speech during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens on Monday, showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when the incident happened.
Congress members on both sides of American politics have expressed horror at the incident.
Trump and Biden are locked in a close election rematch, with most opinion polls including those by Reuters/Ipsos showing the two evenly matched.
Trump is due to receive the Republican nomination formally at the Republican National Convention that kicks off in Milwaukee on Monday.
Trump, who served as president from 2017-2021, easily bested his rivals for the Republican nomination early in the campaign and has largely unified around him the party that had briefly wavered in support after his supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
The businessman and former reality television star entered the year facing a raft of legal worries, including four separate criminal prosecutions.
He was found guilty in late May of trying to cover up hush money payments to a porn star, but the other three prosecutions he faces -- including two for his attempts to overturn his defeat -- have been ground to a halt by various factors including a Supreme Court decision early this month that found him to be partly immune to prosecution.
— with Reuters, AP